Ukrainian four-time world kickboxing champion Vitalii Merinov, who fought at the front in Ukraine, died in hospital from injuries sustained on the battlefield. This was announced by Ruslan Martsynkiv, the mayor of Merinov’s hometown of Ivano-Frankivsk.
Merinov had voluntarily joined the Ukrainian army shortly after the Russian army began the invasion in February 2022. Merinov, who was injured by shrapnel in his leg in one of the clashes, later recovered and returned to the front, according to the mayor.
It is unclear from where he was mortally wounded. Merinov’s wife and two-year-old daughter are alive. According to Kiev, at least 262 Ukrainian athletes have died since the beginning of the Russian occupation.
Four-time world kickboxing champion Vitalii Merinov was killed in eastern Ukraine.
Vitalii Merinov joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when the large-scale invasion of Russia began. Vitalii’s two-year-old daughter is left without a father.
REST IN PEACE
📷@gerashchenko_en pic.twitter.com/tZmgTczUJq
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 31, 2023
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
